Stars align for first round of #VicOpen

It’s wall-to-wall stars with the release of the 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open draw for round one on Thursday.

On the women’s side of the draw, defending champion Minjee Lee has been paired with in-form Englishwoman Charley Hull and 2016 US Women’s Open champ Brittany Lang off the 10th tee on the Creek Course at 8.10am.

They’ll be the first women’s group out after another blockbuster trio of five-time Women’s Australian Open champion Karrie Webb, reigning major champs Pernilla Lindberg and Georgia Hall at 7.50am.

And one earlier at 7.30am is another great group comprising Su Oh, Paula Creamer and 2015 champion Marianne Skarpnord.

On the Beach Course in the afternoon, a series of marquee groups will be led away on the first tee from 12.10pm by Karis Davidson, Laura Davies and former Women’s Australian Open champ Haru Nomura.

Two women’s groups later, Hannah Green will play alongside Christina Kim and Cheyenne Woods in a trio of crowd favourites from 12.50pm.

On the men’s side of the draw, European Tour rookie Jake Mcleod will play alongside Kiwi Ryan Fox for the first two days, starting their 2019 campaigns on the Creek course at 7:20am with the winner of last month’s Australian Amateur Championship, Conor Purcell, of Ireland.

Thursday morning’s marquee men will be two groups further back, with Victorian Lucas Herbert to be joined by fellow European Tour pro Beef Johnston and Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa.